February 26, 2012

Hearing and reading about a new book that is about to come out, written about my grandparents’ love affair with emphasis on Karl’s tennis career, is forcing me to learn about the dangers of possessiveness. I am shocked and incredulous that someone would already take my story and write it as her own. This is the way of the world? I haven’t read it yet. I spoke to the publisher for over an hour, asking him if the money he might lose by waiting to see if the facts and timbre in her book are correct was more important to him than my grandparents’ reputation. He said it was. He would not delay the book’s debut under any circumstances.

A wonderful facebook friend, a life-saver twice, Bob Sullivan said to me: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” An adage I had long ago forgotten. All I could think was: “Stealing is the worst form of greed.”

My book is not for profit. I will give any money I might make to a charity. Others will seize on the story for personal gain. I am just a vehicle for my grandfather to be known. But how will he be known? As the person he was?

The Universe will decide in time; I will continue to say that mine is the definitive heartfelt story, but so far my book is not widely known. Ed Breisacher, my mentor/publisher at Darwin Press is working to change that. How I hope he can.

Thank you to him and to all of my friends and supporters who are keeping me and Starboard at Midnight afloat. Beth Sanford’s facebook page for the book has arrived at a great time. Thank you Beth!!!

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Notable Reviews for Starboard at Midnight

“When hundreds died and you should have gone with them, it is difficult to cope with such pressure. Starboard at Midnight tells the story of Karl H. Behr, a German American who survived the tragedy of the Titanic. Famed as a rising tennis star, he joined activism with former President Theodore Roosevelt in his own way of facing survivor's guilt. Starboard at Midnight is a moving bit of biography and history, very highly recommended reading.”—Midwest Book Review

“...a literary treat in the rising tide of books about the century-old disaster.... Amid the hubbub of glossy pictorials, in-depth chronicles, and pure junk has emerged an intimate literary gem, Starboard at Midnight, a novelized treatment of the lives of Titanic survivors Karl Behr and Helen Newsom.... With all the drama and intrigue that charges a spy thriller, and punctuated by bursts of eloquent prose, Sanford's well-woven tale fleshes out the grandmother she cherished and reclaims an elusive grandfather she never knew but felt compelled to discover. The romance of Behr and Newsom is familiar to Titanic aficionados, but its retelling from such close quarters offers fresh nuance.... The book’s 38 illustrations are in themsevles worth its purchase price.” (Read More)—Randy Bryan Bigham, Encyclopedia Titanica

ESPN and Karl Behr

This (6) minute video, presented by ESPN as a segment for the US Open in 1998, features Tennis Hall of Famers: Karl Behr and Dick Williams. Both passengers on the Titanic.
Like the 1914 tennis match they are seen playing in at the beginning, the video volleys back and forth between Dick’s family with their explanations about Dick’s Harvard connections, his near disastrous fate, and Karl’s son and granddaughter, Lynn Sanford, who reads from Karl’s memoir.

Lynn Sanford wants her viewers to know that she does not in any way endorse the inaccurate Titanic the Tennis Story, which may advertise at the end of this video and often with Starboard at Midnight on Amazon.com.Thank you.